Red flags revealed in background checks for potential Springfield School District employees could soon get extra scrutiny from board members.

The suggestion was among a number of changes discussed during a presentation at Monday's school board meeting by former District 186 School Superintendent Bob Hill, who was hired in May at a cost of $650 per day to update board policies, rules and regulations.

Hill said board members are sometimes left in the dark about hires who may have questionable pasts, but not necessarily ones that would eliminate them from the hiring pool.

A background check, for example, may turn up a decade-old arrest for driving under the influence or a misdemeanor crime that board members may want to know about before they approve someone's employment, Hill said.

Currently, Hill said, board members only see the person's name and position on the agenda under “personnel recommendations” before voting.

Hill advised the board to think hard about the change before deciding, noting it would result in a large amount of work given the large number of people the district hires each year.

“Their name appears on the agenda, and the board member may never know the ding was in there,” Hill said. “Ultimately, board members are the ones who have to answer the hard questions.”

The suggestion comes months after the district came under scrutiny after an Illinois Times article in February revealed Lanphier High School boys basketball coach Blake Turner has a criminal record that includes 11 arrests on charges such as suspicion of battery, illegal gun possession and a drug violation.

Turner, who was hired in 2008, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of battery and reckless conduct but was never convicted of a felony.

Board members didn't discuss the suggestion surrounding background checks Monday, but they could discuss it further at their next meeting July 21.

Hill also noted after Monday's meeting that he no longer will be paid by the district as he moves on from reviewing board policies to the district's rules and regulations.

He said it took him longer to review polices than expected and he wanted to follow through on his promise to update rules and regulations, even if it meant he wouldn't be paid.

“I told them I would do it, and I'm a man of my word, so I'm going to do it,” Hill said. “The district has a better place to spend its money than to spend it on me writing rules and regs.”

An exact figure of what Hill was paid was not immediately available.

When Hill was hired in May, he could work limited number of days in order to retain his pension as a retired administrator, meaning the most the hire could cost the district was about $20,000.